Metallic body for vehicles.



No. 691,455. Patented lan. 2|, |902.

A H. F. EASTMAN. METALLIC BODY FOR'VEHIGLES. (Application 'mea Jem. 11, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

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Patented lan. 2|, |902.

H. F. ESTMAN. METALLIC BODY FOR VEHICLES.

(Application led Jan. 11, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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No. 691,455. Patented 1an. 2|,v |902.

'Hb r. EAs'MAN. METALLICBUDY FUR VEHICLES. (Application ma .1m 11, 1901.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

HENRY F. EASTMAN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE EASTMAN METALLIC BODY-COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

METALLIC BODY FOR VEHICLES.

Y SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691,455, dated January 21, 1902.

Application iiled January 11, 1901. Serial No. 42,883. (No model.) Y

T @ZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. EASTMAN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Bodies for Vehicles, of whichI hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap- 1o pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in vehicle-bodies, and particularly to bodies designed for use in motor-vehicles.A

The object of said invention is to provide x 5 a body which combines incombustibility, ri-

gidity, and ready interchangeability of parts. A further object is to provide a structure wherein the exterior finish of the vehiclebody Will be protected from heat generated zo upon the interior and such finish main tained.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain means embodying the invention, such disclosed means, however, constituting but one of varions forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a vehicle-body embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a 3o central longitudinal section'v of such body. Fig. 3 represents a plan View thereof. Fig. 4 represents a transverse section of the rear portion of the body. Fig. 5 represents an enlarged detail transverse section of such rear portion. Fig. 6 represents an enlarged detail view illustrating the method of reinforcing the corners of one of the frame portions of the body. Fig. 7 represents an enlarged detail perspective view of an angle-plate, illus- 4o 'trating a method of strengthening adjoining parts of such frame. Fig. 8 represents a side elevationlooking from the interior, of one of the front side panels of said body. Fig. 9 `represents a transverse section of the body, taken through the forward portion thereof. Fig. 10 represents a perspective viewof the skeleton frame of the main portion of the rear of the body. Fig. 11 represents a perspective view of the base-frame of the body,

and Fig. 12 represents a perspective view of one of the rear side panels thereof.

A three-sided integral base-frame 1 is constructed of angle-iron and extends from front to rear of the body, the front ends thereof being bent upwardly, as shown, to provide the necessary conformation for the frontportion of the body and to form a base for the footrest thereof. Said frame is provided with one or more transverse braces 2 for imparting rigidity thereto. Said frame forms part of the lower side and rear portion of the body and supports upon its rear the main body portion 4, which is comprised of the frame or skeleton of such main portion, and panels secured thereto and constructed as hereinafter fully described. Said frame 4 is constructed of angle-iron brazed to form an integral structure and is three-sided, as shown in said Fig. 10, rests upon the upper edges of the frame 1, and is secured'to the latter by means of angle-plates 5, secured to the frames 4 and 1, respectively, by means of bolts and nuts 6,'Figs. 4 and 5, whereby such two frame portions may be readily attached or detached. Secured to the base-frame 1 by means of the bolts 25, Fig. 4, is a grid 3, which consists of crossed angle-bars brazed at their crossingpoints and forming a support upon which the motive apparatus of the character employed in the vehicle is placed and supported.

The frame portion 4 may be formed integrally, as stated, or may be formed of elements suitably secured together by means of angleplates placed and secured at the points of juncture. When formed integrally, the oorners aie'reinforced by means of plates 7 and 8 of the form illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. These plates are preferably brazed at the corners. i

The side and rear openings of the frame 4 are filled with panels 9, constructed of light sheet metal, having secured upon their inner surfaces a lining 10 of insulating and incombustible material,such as asbestos mill-board. Such lining is secured to said panels by turning the edges of the sheet material over upon the interior, as illustrated at 11 in Figs. 5 and 12, the panels so formed being secured to the frame 4 by means of studs 14 and nuts 15, brazed into the frame members and passing through the panels at such turned portions, thereby securing at once the panel and lining thereof in place. The exteriors of such studs are caused to lie iiush with-the exterior surface of the frame, thereby preserving its outward fiat and finished appearance. The central portion of each of such panels is preferably embossed in a suitable design, such as 12, (shown in Fig. 1,) thereby imparting an ornamental appearance to such panel and at the same time imparting rigidity to its structure. The upper opening of such frame 4 is partially filled with a panel 9, composed of a fixed portion and a hinged portion, the hinges 16 being located near the central portion of such opening and the hinged portion forming the rear part of such panel. A button 18 is provided for securing the hinged portion of the panel in place, and plates 26, Fig. 10, are brazed in the upper corners for supporting the rear end of said panel. The front portion of the fixed portion of said panel 9 is preferably supported by being secured upon the lower surface of the seat of the vehicle,

(not shown,) which extends across and is supported on the frame.

To the front side portion of the frame 4 and to the front of the frame 1 are secured two side panels 19, forming the upper side portions of the front part of the vehicle-body. Said panels are formed of metal, preferably aluminium, and are secured to the frame 4 by means of bolts and nuts 21, Fig. 2.`

The inside of each of' the panels 19 is provided with a double iiange 20, between which are formed a series of projecting bosses 22. These flanges and bosses abut the frame 1 laterally, as shown in Fig. 9, suitable screwbolts 23 passing through said frame l and into said bosses, as shownin said figure, thereby securing this part of the structure rigidly without marring the exterior iinish of the body.

The above-described structure is such as to render the interior of the body portion easily accessible for the purpose of repairing the interior mechanism which may be placed therein and also permits the removal of broken or injured parts, which may be readily replaced after being repaired or be replaced by duplicate parts, the whole presenting a comparatively light and rigid structure. The exterior surface may be highly finished with enamel and such finish indefinitely preserved against the action of the heat from the interlor.

I find it preferable to increase the rigidity of the forward portion by the use of wooden separators 24, Fig. 2.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being 'made as re` gai-ds the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any one of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinct-ly claim as my invention- 1. In a vehicle-body, the combination with a continuous metallic base-frame, of a metallic body portion detachably secured thereto.

2. In a vehicle-body, the combination with a continuous metallic base-frame, forming the lower lateral and rear edges of such body, of a metallic body portion detachably secured thereto.

3. In a vehicle-body, the combination with a continuous integral metallic three sided base-frame forming the lower lateral and rear edges of said body, of a metallic body portion detachably secured thereto.

4. A separable metallic frame for an automobile-body, comprising in combination, a main lower angle-bar frame, a body-frame of angle-bar material, three-sided, and detachably secured to the lower frame, and forward metal panels detachabl y secured to said lower frame and body-frame, substantially as described.

5. An automobile-body comprising a lower frame, composed of a single bent angle-bar extending from front to rear, a brace for said frame, a three-sided body-frame composed of integral angle-bar material, and detachably secured to said lower frame, in combination with sheet-metal panels detachably secured in the openings in said body-frame, substantially as described.

6. An automobile-bodycomprising in combination, a lower integral metal frame extending frorn front to rear, a detachable three-sided metal frame for the body portion,detachable insulating and incombustible panels in said body-frame, and detachable metal forward side panels, constructed substantially as and in the manner set forth.

7. A lower frame for an automobile-body composed of an integral three-sided metallic angle-bar, in combination with a three-sided body-frame, composed of integral angle-bar material, angle plates arranged to detachably secure said frames together, studs secured to the body-frame, sheet-metal panels, and insulating and incombustible linings therefor through which said studs pass, and nuts upon said studs, substantially as described.

8. In combination, an integral three-sided angle-bar bottom frame, and a body-frame composed of integral angle-bar material, with means for detachably connecting the frames together, substantially as described.

9. A forward side panel for a metallic vehicle-body, consisting of a plate flanged on its inner edges, and provided with bosses on its inner and lower face, substantially as described'.

10. An integral metallic base-frame for a ICO IIO

vehicle-body, in combination with a metal- In testimony whereof I have signed my lic integral body-frame, detachably secured name to this specification in the presence of 1o theretoh two subscribing Witnesses.

ll. T e combination With a metallic body- 5 frame, of a. detachable metallic top panel, I HENRY F' EASTMAN the said panel being separated into tWo parts, Vitnesses: hinged together, substantially as and for the GEO. O. WILLET,

purpose described. WM. M. MONROE. 

